Class of 2025: How Sports Shaped One Student’s Babson Experience
For Kai Ogenah ’25, Babson College is synonymous with the sound of sneakers squeaking on a gym floor. As a member of the Babson Men’s Club Basketball team, as well as a referee for the intramural team, he found joy in the minutes between tipoff and the final buzzer.
“(As a referee), I always tried to spread humor and good vibes during the games,” Ogenah says. “Those moments reminded me of why I love sports and how they can bring people together in the best way.”
His love of sports goes beyond the Len Green Recreation and Athletics Complex and even the Wellesley campus. He took part in the second iteration of Good Company, Good Game, a course that includes a weeklong trip to Atlanta to explore and meet with executives from Arthur M. Blank ’63, H’98’s Blank Family of Businesses, including the Atlanta Falcons, Atlanta United, and PGA Tour Superstore.
“I had the opportunity to host a panel with the Atlanta Falcons general manager and team president,” he says. “I started to see how this class could become my career.” He is also one of the first students to graduate with a concentration in sports management.
Ogenah sees sports as a way to bring people together, an ethos that ignited all aspects of his Babson life. Whether mentoring younger students as a resident assistant, taking part in the Innovation Odyssey course, or working as an athletic game manager for varsity athletics, his ultimate end goal is to spread compassion and enthusiasm.
As his time at Babson winds down, he can confidently say he has, while opening doors for himself and other sports fans on campus.
“I’m especially proud of being able to juggle all these responsibilities,” he says. “Balancing academics, extracurriculars, and personal growth is a challenge I embraced, and it’s shaped who I am today.”
Who he is today is an imminent Babson graduate, ready to see how his passions fit in the wider business world—with a little joy on the side.
What are your post-graduation plans?
“I am joining RSM US in their Boston office as a management and strategy consultant, specifically within the risk management sector. It’s a role that aligns with my passion for problem solving and working with businesses to overcome operational and technological challenges. I’m excited to continue learning and growing professionally while also applying the leadership and strategy skills I’ve honed at Babson. This opportunity is a big step forward in my career path to obtain basic, transferable skills that can be applied to a multitude of different industries.”
Do you have a favorite class or professor?
“Professor Leslie Garbarino’s classes (which include Good Company, Good Game) provided a structure and game plan on how to be successful not only in her class but also in life. She always challenged me to think critically and stay true to my goals. Her mentorship was one of the most valuable parts of my Babson experience, and I am forever grateful for her taking a chance on me, allowing me to grow through my wins and losses.”
Do you have any advice for first-year students?
“Be unapologetically yourself from day one. Don’t try to fit into any mold or fake an identity just to feel accepted—real connections come from authenticity. The people who are meant to be in your circle will gravitate toward the real you. College is the perfect time to grow into your full self, so embrace that journey wholeheartedly and be ready to endure the good times as well as the bad times because that is what makes you who you are.”
What makes the Class of 2025 special?
“The Class of 2025 is one of the most diverse classes Babson has ever admitted. It means a lot to me to be part of a group that pushed boundaries and opened doors for others who look like me. We’ve shown the world the depth of our generation’s talent, resilience, and leadership. This class laid the foundation for future students to thrive and continue changing the game.
“Also, being in the pioneering class of the sports management concentration makes this class special, as we have the chance to trailblaze in the sports business sector and find success that can then be looked upon favorably for future generations at Babson.”
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